Junior Silverbacks set for tough test at 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket

The Uganda U16 national basketball team, the Junior Silverbacks, will kick off their campaign at the 2025 FIBA U16 AfroBasket with a high-stakes clash against defending champions Guinea. The tournament runs from September 2–14 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Uganda has been drawn into Group B alongside Tunisia and Cameroon, making it arguably the toughest pool in the competition.

Guided by head coach Michael Seger, the Junior Silverbacks enter the tournament with growing confidence following a promising build-up. In a series of friendlies held in Kigali, Uganda defeated Morocco 67–61 and edged hosts Rwanda 96–93, before narrowly falling to Egypt 55–64.

Coach Seger will rely on a talented core of young players, including playmaker Kwizera Shammah, Bwakanda Joshua, Rwuhiriro Pierre, and Mongo Stephen. Unlike the 2023 edition in Tunisia, where Uganda managed just one win in five games with a depleted squad of only eight players—this year’s team is deeper, more balanced, and better prepared.

The 2025 U16 AfroBasket features 23 boys’ and girls’ teams, with Uganda aiming to finish among the top two to secure qualification for the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey.

This year’s tournament also welcomes debutants Sierra Leone and Liberia, while Morocco returns to the continental stage after a decade-long absence.

While traditional powerhouses Egypt (five titles) and Angola remain strong contenders, all eyes are on Guinea, who stunned the continent in 2023 by defeating Angola in the semifinals and toppling Egypt 84–76 in the final to claim their first-ever title.

The Junior Silverbacks will also look to draw inspiration from Tejan Rugette, who starred for Uganda in the 2023 edition before earning a call-up to the senior national team.

FIBA U16 Afrobasket groups 

Group A

Rwanda, Angola,  Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone

Group B

Guinea, Tunisia, Uganda, Cameroon

Group C

Egypt,  Morocco, Mali, Liberia